U. Kihm, Switzerland Each country has the right to stop importation if the risk analysis demonstrates an unacceptable risk. Rules for risk analysis are layed down in the Animal Health Code of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE). The SPS Agreement of the WTO recognises the OIE as the relevant international organisation responsible for the development and promotion of international animal health standards, guidelines, and recommendations affecting trade in live animals and animal products. In particular, live animals but also animal products are by far the most important vehicles for spreading diseases by trade. OIE The Animal Health Code regulates more than 80 diseases and assists the Veterinary Administrations to use it in developing their animal health measures applicable to imports and exports of animals and animal products. The recommendations in the Code are designed to prevent diseases being introduced into the importing country, taking into account the nature of the commodity and the animal health status of the exporting country. This means that, correctly applied, they ensure that the intended importation can take place with an optimal level of sanitary security, incorporating the latest scientific findings and available techniques. In other words, each recommendation relating to a disease is based on the assumption that the importing country is free of that disease. How to demonstrate freedom from a disease? According to the Animal Health Code, countries wishing to obtain recognition of freedom from a disease must demonstrate that they have a reliable system of disease control and surveillance, that the disease is notifiable, and that they have an effective veterinary organisation. Surveillance There are two different surveillance systems: 1. The passive surveillance system which relies completely on disease awareness of farmers, veterinarians, traders, slaughterhouse people, etc. These people must notify compulsory any suspect case to the Veterinary Administration. 2. Active surveillance means the screening of an animal population in respect to the clinical signs, pathological lesions, seroreactors, etc. A national epidemiological system should incorporate disease surveillance, description of host population characteristics, and environmental assessment. An effective veterinary infrastructure is necessary to support this epidemiological system. Veterinary Services The quality of the Veterinary Services depends on a set of factors, which include fundamental principles of an ethical, organisational and technical nature. Compliance with these fundamental principles (professionality, independence, integrity, etc) is important to the establishment and maintenance of confidence in its international veterinary certificates. The Veterinary Services must be able to demonstrate by means of an appropriate legislation and organisation that they are in a position to have control of the establishment and application of animal health measures, and of international veterinary certification activities. In particular, they shall define and document the responsibilities and structure of the organisations in charge of the animal identification system, control of animal movements, animal disease control and reporting systems, epidemiological surveillance and communication of epidemiological information. The Veterinary Services shall develop and document appropriate procedures and standards for the implementation and management of animal health measures and international veterinary certification activities. These procedures and standards may for example relate to: prevention and control of disease outbreaks epidemiological surveillance and zoning inspection and sampling techniques diagnostic tests for animal diseases Preventing the spread of Classical Swine Fever (CSF) and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathie (BSE) is discussed in respect to risk analysis, freedom from disease, surveillance and quality of Veterinary Services. 14.9.2000